What a difference a few days makes. Sam Hasler, the villain against Guernsey, turned hat-trick hero as Bay cruised past an ill disciplined South Park.

“I’m very pleased, I thought we were excellent again today”, said Herne Bay manager Sam Denly, “it should have been more than four and we should have been three or four up in the first fifteen minutes”.

Ray Kelly writes: Herne Bay travelled to Whitehall Lane,home of South Park ,on Saturday and for the first 10 minutes both sides seamed evenly matched but after that initial 10 minutes Bay took complete control , by playing some deliciously skilful football. 1-0 up at half time was not a fair reflection of play. Herne Bay could have netted at least another five had it not have been for the South Park goalkeeper James Wastell who made save after save. The home side lost their cool in the second half and ended the game with 8 players on the field , added to this a great hat trick from Sam Hasler and a single from Joe Nelder, Herne Bay romped home 4-0.
South Park were the first on the attack forcing corners in the 6/7 minutes with Dean Lovegrove going close both times. On 10 minutes Bay had a penalty claim turned down by Referee Mr.Simpson after Sam Hasler was upended by James Wastell in the South Park goal. Three minutes later Elliot Cutts burst through the ‘Parks’ defence after running on to a good cross from Sam Hasler but Wastell saved well from his shot. Herne Bay took the lead on 17 minutes when Sam Hasler smashed in a free kick from 25 yards. that left Wastell no chance. Then came a series of saves from the heroic James Wastell ,saving twice from Elliot Cutts and thwarted Joe Nelder and Sam Hasler , such was the Bay’s total dominance. On a rare South Park attack James McElligott fired over when well placed . Then came the first sending off, Alex Penfold disputed a throw on with the linesman and he proceeded to verbally abuse him and the Referee who promptly sent him off. Herne Bay continued to overwhelm South Park but could not find a way past Wastell.

On 50 minutes South Park brought on Jack Stafford for Ryan Smith in a bid to stem the tide but within a few minutes they were reduced to 8 players after Jack Stafford was red carded for stamping on Herne Bay’s Harry Brown and he was followed by Dean Lovegrove who issued a tirade of abuse at Referee Mr.Simpson. Joe Nelder then increased the lead when he fired home after a good cross from Elliott Cutts. Sam Denly then introduced Kane Phillip for Nathan Eastwood and Dan Parkinson for Joe Nelder. Chances were now coming at regular intervals but the ‘Parks’ keeper Wastell prevented Cutts, Parkinson and Hasler from adding to the score until Sam Hasler breezed through the defence before slamming the ball in hard and low. In the 71st.minute. Danny Williams was then replaced by Giorgio
Russo . Herne Bay continued to pepper the South Park defence and on 82 minutes Sam Hasler made it 4-0 with a sweet shot from 18 yards and with it his hat trick.

Had it not been for the heroics from the South Park custodian , James Wastell the Bay could have scored 10.

“Today, they’ve gone down to eight men and it’s almost become a training game for us”, said Denly, “but another excellent performance away from home and three important points. Sammy Hasler displayed his other side today, I’ve said it before, he’s one of the best players in the league, what lets him down sometimes, as on Wednesday, is that he can be a bit of a hothead. He’s got to take that out of his game, but today he let his football do the talking”.

South Park: James Wastell, Dean Lovegrove, Alex Penfold, Asa-Rixon Nicholls, Dylan Merchant, Ryan Smith (Jack Stafford 55), Jack Macleod (Dan Moody 70), Nathan Ayling (Karl Parker 72), Kieron Lavery, Jar Jackson, James McElligatt.

Subs not used: Kofi Quartey, Jerry O’Sullivan.

Sent off: Alex Penfold, Jack Stafford, Dean Lovegrove Cautions: James McElligatt, Jack Stafford

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Dan Johnson, Connor Sanders, Nathan Eastwood (Kane Phillip 63), Harry Brown, Joe Nelder (Dan Parkinson 65), Danny Williams (Giorgio Russo 75), Sam Hasler, Elliott Cutts.

Subs not used: Mark Lovell (only 4 subs named)

Sent off: none Cautions: Joe Nelder, Danny Williams.

Referee: James Simpson Assistants: Steven Hughes & Lee Martin-Cramp

Man of the Match: Sam Hasler (Herne Bay)